PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday said preserving Peshawar’s rich historical heritage was essential to promote tourism and strengthen the city’s cultural identity.

He directed authorities to take practical measures for the restoration and promotion of historical sites.

The governor said this while chairing a meeting on the preservation, restoration and development of Peshawar’s historical heritage and tourist attractions, according to an official statement issued by the governor’s office.

Adviser for planning and development Usman Saifullah Khan, tourism secretary Sadat Hassan and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

Officials briefed the meeting on Peshawar’s historical and cultural significance, the conservation of heritage sites, night tourism, heritage tourism, and ongoing and proposed development projects.

The governor said Peshawar was a living symbol of centuries-old history, civilisation and culture, so there was a need to project its historical identity to attract both domestic and foreign tourists.

He directed authorities to relocate the vintage ambulance and old fire brigade vehicles at Gor Khatri to a prominent place where visitors could easily view them.

Mr Kundi also called for the operation of special tourist buses to facilitate visits to the city’s historical landmarks.

He instructed officials to install large information boards near the motorway toll plaza highlighting Peshawar’s historical sites and cultural heritage so that visitors entering the city could learn about its rich past.

The governor said cultural events should be organised regularly to preserve and promote Peshawar’s traditions, arts and literary heritage. He added that restoration work on the ancestral houses of legendary film icons Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor should also begin at the earliest.

Mr Kundi welcomed the practical steps being taken to conserve the city’s historical heritage and said the restoration of heritage sites, along with improved tourism facilities, would further strengthen Peshawar’s cultural identity.

Meanwhile, Governor Kundi chaired a meeting and said that all languages spoken in the province should be included in the Khyber Star Talent Hunt Programme to ensure equal representation and promote the province’s rich cultural diversity.

The meeting discussed the proposed Khyber Star Talent and Cultural Promotion Programme. It was attended by adviser to the governor on information and public relations Samar Haroon Bilour, information secretary Bakhtiar Khan, sports secretary Mohammad Asif and other relevant officials.

The meeting was given a detailed briefing on the objectives, implementation mechanism, selection process and other aspects of the programme, according to an official statement issued by Mr Kundi’s office.

Officials said the initiative was aimed at identifying and promoting the talent of young people while highlighting the culture, traditions and diverse languages of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

They said audition camps would be established in different districts of the province, while a committee comprising representatives of relevant departments would be formed to ensure transparency and maintain high standards in the selection process.

The governor directed that all regional languages, including Urdu and Saraiki, be represented in the auditions.

He added that Saraiki was widely spoken in Sindh, Dera Ismail Khan and Punjab and deserved to be included in the programme.

Mr Kundi said the youth of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa possessed immense talent and potential that should be showcased before the world.

“Providing young people with positive and constructive opportunities and an effective platform to express their abilities was the need of the hour,” he said.

The governor also said the Khyber Star Talent Hunt Programme would encourage young talent and help promote the province’s rich cultural heritage.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2026